Dressed Trees ( Rumpenheimer Kunsttage)

Exhibition Overview for “Kunst Park” at “Rumpenheimer Kunsttage
In the majestic setting of the Rumpenheim Castle grounds, with its sprawling old trees, “Kunst Park” presented an exploration of culture, identity, and anthropomorphism through the clothing of trees. By dressing three trees, I sought to…

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transform these natural giants, moving them into the realm of human cultural expression. Clothing, after all, is more than fabric; it is a visual language of personality, history, and social codes. It carries narratives of identity, community, and belonging.
Inspired by the history of castle grounds as places of labor—where cooks, gardeners, and servants once brought life to these estates—I created three Tree Dresses.
Two trees wear aprons symbolizing Germany’s complex relationship with weapon manufacturing. Each apron is dedicated to a specific weapon model, one for the MP5 and one for the G36, both produced by Heckler & Koch. Decorated with stenciled and transfer-printed motifs of dismantled weapon parts, the aprons evoke the image of towering chefs, preparing an anti-war meal.
The third tree wears a bib overall made of hemp fabric, stenciled with real hemp leaves, referencing the historic moment of cannabis legalization in germany in 2024. This garment suggests a gardener devoting himself to cultivating cannabis, symbolizing a significant shift in cultural and political landscapes.

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